Saxon Settlement Established

c. 700 AD

A Saxon settlement was established at Havant, its name deriving from the Old English 'Hamanfunta', meaning the spring of Hama, a reference to the natural springs that emerge from the chalk at this point. The settlement was part of the kingdom of Wessex and sat on the coastal plain between the South Downs and the sea. The springs and the fertile agricultural land of the coastal strip made this a favourable location for habitation. The Saxon community at Havant farmed the surrounding land and would have exploited the fisheries of the nearby harbour. A church is likely to have existed here from an early date, serving the spiritual needs of the settlement.